7. Kaylee Hawley
Creator's Cafe Episode 7. Kaylee Hawley: Don't Be Afraid of a Bad Drawing with host Jessica Payne of Kika Labs
Kaylee Hawley and I chat finding your style while following your bliss and making preschoolers defend their art on gallery walks!
Show Notes
Follow Kaylee:
IG: @kayleehawley
IG: @ducks_ina_row
Website: www.kayleehawley.com
Ducks in a Row store
Agency: Radish House
Melrose Trading Place on Sundays
School: El Sol Academy
Blue Sky Academy of Art
Creator's Challenge: Draw from Observation
Go to a coffee shop or public place; be present and aware of the beauty around you. Collect visual images.
Quote:
"Don't be afraid of a bad drawing. - Kaylee Hawley
"You'll live a happy life if every day you create something, you learn something, and do something physically."
"It's better to say 'oh well' than 'what if'."
Bio:
My guest Kaylee Hawley is an Illustrator and Art Teacher. She's represented by Radish House Agency where she's working on multiple projects including two children's books. She’s illustrating them as we speak! She is also working on her brand Ducks in a Row whose mission is to create and sell products based on organization, creativity, and positivity.
Kaylee is an elementary and middle school art teacher (I wish I was so lucky to have had her!) She works with artists and El Sol Science and Arts Academy and at Blue Sky Academy of Art. She is a positive force of nature to be reckoned with and her illustrations are beautiful and uplifting. I encourage you to check them out, especially if you have young artists or Elementary or Middle School teachers in your life.
Mentioned:
Luca Malacrino (Kaylee's husband)
Pasadena Arts College
Kyle Payne (Jessica's husband) @therealkylepayne
"Luca Magoo Don't Eat the Glue"
California State University, Fullerton
Creator's Cafe with Jessica Payne of Kika Labs
Host Jessica Payne of Kika Labs breaks down the subtle and the sublime of the creative process with inspiring artists at the Creator's Cafe.
Find out more info on the show and host Jessica Payne.
Offering digital courses, performance coaching, and more! www.kikalabs.com
Jessica's Featured Course:
If you or someone you know is on the job search, check out her digital course "Level Up Your Video Interviews."
More info and resources at | www.kikalabs.com
Watch the video podcast on YouTube | YouTube Creator's Cafe Podcast Playlist
Follow the Show | @creatorscafebykikalabs
Facebook Group | Creator's Cafe by Kika Labs
Transcripts and YouTube Links at | www.kikalabs.com/creators-cafe-shownotes
Theme Music
Our theme music is composed and performed by Kyle deTarnowsky.
Transcript:
Jessica
My guest, Kaylee Haley is an illustrator and art teacher. She's represented by Radish House Agency, where she's working on multiple projects, including two children's books. She is also working on her brand Ducks in a row, whose mission is to create and sell products based on organization, creativity and positivity. And Kaylee is an elementary and middle school art teacher. I wish I was so lucky to have had her. She works with artists at L.A. Social Science and Arts Academy and at Blue Sky Academy of Arts. She is a positive force of nature and her illustrations are beautiful and uplifting, and I encourage you to check them out, especially if you have young artists or elementary or middle school teachers in your life. Please enjoy an uplifting conversation with Kaylee Hawley. Welcome to Creators Cafe Kaylee Hawley! Cheers.
Kaylee
Cheers.
Jessica
What are you drinking today?
Kaylee
I am drinking a latte with oat milk. Oat milk has recently changed my life. Oh, yeah? Yeah. Thanks to my husband, he showed it to me. And I can't drink coffee the same way anymore.
Jessica
Oh, that's perfect. And it was good because I. This one I got from a place called the One Hotel that's up here on Sunset. Okay. And my friend Gil works there who shout out to Gil, a listener. He's an actor and works at the cafe there. He's really sweet. So. Yeah. So this is compliments of Gil.
Kaylee
Delicious. Yeah. Thank you, Gil. Oh.
Jessica
Okay. Ah, So I know you through your husband, Luca, but I'm so delighted to get to actually chat with you. Um, I mean, we party recently. Yeah, so. But I'm excited to get to know you better. Um, how do you think of yourself as a creator?
Kaylee
What a good question. I mean, I'm an illustrator for children's books and an art teacher for t k through eighth grade. Those are like my main two titles. Great. Great.
Jessica
And how long have you been Illustrator shading verses, thinking of yourself as a visual artist? Because I know that's kind of a step and kind of a a specialization. So where did you make that change?
Kaylee
Oh, I remember in high school knowing I was going to be like following my, you know, my art path, but not knowing exactly what that meant. Yeah. And then so looking into colleges, I went to go visit Art Center and they had these rooms for the different arts and just you can get an idea. And I was like, okay, let's go into graphic design.
Kaylee
And there was just like a magazine on the table and I was so lost. I was like, I don't see I don't see here. Yeah. And then I was like, okay, it's between that or the illustration. And when I walked into that door, it like, clicked and I was like, I'm an illustrator. I understand what the art is here.
Kaylee
I admire what these artists are doing. I want to be like them. And it was like, Okay, I'm an illustrator. So I went to college for that and it just never questioned it. It was that was my path.
Jessica
So fantastic. When you went to the art center, was this at your college or was this somewhere else? Is this a specific art center that you're talking about?
Kaylee
The art center in Pasadena. It's like a college that my professor and like mentor pretty much. She went to that school and so it was kind of like a college hunt. It was just like looking down my different options. And Art Center is beautiful in Pasadena, but I think I wanted to be a little bit closer. And I went to Cal State Fullerton and said, okay, yeah, yeah.
Jessica
Is the art center something that people could just go to? Like, could I go there or do you take classes there? How does the art center work? I don't know anything about it.
Kaylee
Yeah, so it's a college, but. Oh, gotcha. Yeah, I know the name is misleading, but not okay.
Jessica
So it was kind of. You were going to look at colleges. Yeah. And I just love the idea of, like, behind door number two. You can look at this kind of art and behind door number three. Yeah. Wow. That's a fascinating. Yeah. Okay, so up until that point, what kind of art had you practiced, had you been drawn to and what got you started on that path?
Kaylee
Yeah. So I guess when I started it was just like regular visual arts. So just doing chalk pastels, watercolor, everything traditional for my art classes in high school. And then I was doing like commissioned work on my own in high school. So that was exciting.
Jessica
How did you start that?
Kaylee
Huh? It was funny. So I was just doing it for friends and family that knew what I did. And then in my 12th year a senior year, I had a government teacher who had is going to groups and he's like, okay, you're doing a whole business plan like sell us. And so I sold my class on my art and I actually got customers, including some teachers.
Kaylee
So I was like a big business spike from that class project, which was super nice and like exactly what my teacher like wanted us to gain from it. And I just kept going. So even after graduating, people were still reaching out like, I need this for my mom. Like, can you draw me and my siblings? Like, sure. And that's kind of like how I got started.
Kaylee
So it was very like fine arts, just kind of recreating pictures. Okay. But then later on, finding my style and like, knowing illustration is what I want to do.
Jessica
Wow. Wow. That's incredible. Okay, so talk to me about how you found your style, because I love your style. It's so distinct and fun and warm and a little sassy. Oh, I'm sorry. Also, I have to tell you, my husband, Kyle, like we both like your art, and he's always a sucker for animals. And so it's right up here, right up his alley for yourself.
Jessica
And you have a print of a giraffe on one side, and it looks like it's very worried. And it is his favorite thing. He's a long time, so.
Kaylee
I think it's so nice. I love to hear that. Yeah.
Jessica
So how did you go about developing your style and making that turn from more representative art and fine art into your style? Which first of all, how would you describe it? Because there is, there's a very distinct throughline in your color palette and in your perspective that I really admire.
Kaylee
Oh my.
Jessica
How did you find that?
Kaylee
I thank you so much, first of all, and one of my favorite questions, because I think artists are always going through that of like, what is my style? It's like and, you know, you're you're figuring that out, you know, as you're growing up. And it's just it's just immediate. Like, who are you and who are you going to present yourself as to the world for the rest of your life?
Kaylee
And it's just this scary concept and you're like trying to figure out who you are, but then you have to broadcast it to everybody and like, stick to it. But the truth is, is just keep drawing. That's how you find your style. Like don't ever stop or just kind of like, wonder, just keep trying. And I reflect too of like, what?
Kaylee
When am I the happiest when I'm drawing? And whatever that style comes out, I'm like, I guess that's who I am. And it's just a very simple, very cheerful. I just draw what makes me happy and I like to move on to like the next concept. I don't like to stay on one image for too long. That's why it's just kind of simple flat and then really story based to show that happy emotion.
Kaylee
And then I like to go on to the next one. So just from drawing a lot, I was starting to see my style. And another thing is that other people can see your style more than you sometimes. Yeah, because we would do like our gallery walks in in college, so you just kind of present your stuff and we talk about it in front of the class and sometimes, you know, our stuff is up there with other work and people can tell who did whose.
Kaylee
And you're like, How did you know that was mine? But like, I'm starting to see a style and you just get relieved. You're like, You see it.
Jessica
That makes a lot of sense, right? I don't see it because of that. Or to somebody described it as having your nose too close to the picture so you can't see what it looks like fully.
Kaylee
Yes, that's a great way to describe it. And but it was just like, I don't know, a sense of relief or like just so much stress free of like, I figured it out. And so. Right. Everybody figures it out in a different stage of life, too. And the important thing is, is that your style should always be growing.
Kaylee
It doesn't just stop. And you're like, That's that's where I am. It's like now, as an artist and as a human, you should always be growing and it'll just progress into what it's supposed to be and blossom along with you. And but it still keeps that something consistent because it's still coming from you. But yeah, if you're don't be afraid to change.
Kaylee
If you're in the same style, I think it's time to test some things out, find more inspiration and slowly keep progressing. Yeah.
Jessica
So a couple of elements of your style that I really like. One is really specific that you have a lot of characters with kind of blushing cheeks. Yes. And hearts on their knees. Yeah. This. And it's just a really sweet throughline that also feels very much like you when we talk in person. What how did you discover that particular aspect?
Jessica
Was it just repetition and you found it and you liked it, or did somebody point that out? How did that one come about?
Kaylee
Yeah, I think it was just drawing what makes me happy and I'm like, I need to fit a heart in here. It needs to express more love. And I like the, like the warmth. And so it's kind of like in those joints, like fingertips or knees, elbows. I want to add up just a little bit more color and pink.
Kaylee
And I just like the the heart through line and the blushing cheeks. I think it's a great depiction of that warmth and cheerfulness and emotion that I want other people to feel when they look at it. And it just makes me happy. I'm like, always excited. I'm like, I get to do that part so fantastic.
Jessica
And I want to say thank you because you have like such a diverse range of characters too. So you've got a lot of animals, but you also have, you know, like I am a curvy woman. And so seeing like the fun, sexy mermaid who's got like soft curves is really beautiful because you don't just see that in illustration very often.
Kaylee
So that you pointed that out to my friends have also pointed that out, that they just appreciate it. And I was just like, I wasn't even doing that for that purpose. It's just like, Oh, there's so much fun to draw. And I think I.
Jessica
Think if you're in a like, healthy, open mindset, hopefully that is where you're coming from. So I just want to point that out and say thank you and keep doing that because of.
Kaylee
Course, of course.
Jessica
So your shop that you opened is called Ducks in a Row and there is little baby ducks in a row of characters and it's an online shop and it's also on Etsy. And I saw that you also had a pop up recently here at Melrose. MM So tell me about how you decided to create that shop and what your hopes and dreams for that moving forward might be.
Kaylee
Oh, thank you. So I think it was just always a dream of just like seeing illustrators that I love and I'm so inspired by and that's what they're doing. It's just like they create their own shop and I'm like, That's where I see my future. Like, that's just brings me so much joy to just draw what makes you happy and like, just completely, you know, it's a courageous thing, I think, because you're totally just being out there like, this is who I am.
Kaylee
Do you love it enough to buy it? You know, instead of like commission work where people are like requesting exactly what they want and you helping them achieve that for them. Right. This is just this is what makes me happy. Buy it if you like it. And I'm just so happy I did it because it's it's my favorite passion project.
Kaylee
Just yeah, drawing what makes me happy and then meeting all these wonderful people that also find the joy in it and seeing that firsthand of people like getting so excited and smiling or it having them like a jog back, a good memory that just alone makes it worth it. Just meeting those people. So that was great at Melrose Trading Post, that's where I had my first pop up.
Kaylee
And so just meeting those people just like, makes it so worth it and it just inspires me to keep going. So yeah, that's the dream of just like mailing out a bunch of orders, being surrounded by what I love and just, you know, getting that out there in the world. Yeah.
Jessica
Do you do all of your own kind of production and shipping at this point, or do you do it through a dropshipping service or how does that just technically work as a shop?
Kaylee
And right now I'm still like figuring it out and so I'm doing all my shipping.
Jessica
That's hard.
Kaylee
Yeah, yeah. But then like, you know, getting my stickers printed out, I know some artists do that at home, but because I'm a teacher also, I'm just like, I'd rather just have it shipped to my house and it's already ready to be sold. Great. So yeah.
Jessica
Do you have a kind of an ideal customer in mind or of someone you know? Is there a type of person that you think especially would be drawn to your work or some audience that they're buying for? How would you describe maybe who your shop is perfect for?
Kaylee
Yeah, it's strange, but I think it's just people like me, just like the people that respond so well. It's like almost it's someone super similar and it's like, I'm finding good friends like that in a way that's cool.
Jessica
But your specifically with maybe your upbeat cheerfulness is that that's what I feel like runs through.
Kaylee
Yes, I see. Like teachers really appreciate it, which is kind of cool because I'm like, I'm a teacher and I'm just.
Jessica
Like, Yeah.
Kaylee
Yeah. It's like, no wonder you like it. Or what's really cute is that like at Melrose is you see all the people walking by and kids especially will just like, drop what they're doing and like, run this way. And I'm like, yes, kids like my style. Yes. Oh, and kids.
Jessica
I performed for kids for years. I did children's tours. And what I love about them is they're so honest. They are. And and it's scary how brutal they are, because if they don't like it, like they will just leave or they'll say, this is boring. Yeah, but then if they like it, you know, they really mean it. So it's pretty powerful.
Kaylee
It is. It is. So it's the biggest compliment because I'm a children's book illustrator, so it's just like, you know, just.
Jessica
Make thing in the world and. Right.
Kaylee
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jessica
Great. That's actually the next thing I wanted to talk about. So with your children's book illustrations, first of all, how did you get into that space? Because that's kind of a dream space that a lot of people don't get into for a decade or more in their career. So was it getting an agent first? Was it putting together possibilities for your portfolio?
Jessica
What what was your path for that?
Kaylee
Yeah. So first of all, I would say getting your portfolio together and just putting together work that you are interested in doing. Like don't just do work because you know, it's impressive and like people might like it, it's like you might get hired on that and then spend months doing something you.
Jessica
Really don't like doing.
Kaylee
So just show off. You know what you're really good at and you enjoy doing so that you're showing people like, Yes, sign me up for that job. So that's what I was working on for for a while. But then I think it's super important also to just like keep your mind open and anybody can help you because, I mean, it's just like kind of meant to be like the people that just like, come into your life.
Kaylee
You just, you know, let the universe, like, bring what it's supposed to bring you. And it was my college career that, like, that found, like, connected me to people. And it's like they appreciated my work ethic and how professional it was even just from each class. They just noticed that and they were like, okay, Because it was like through that trail that I found my agency.
Kaylee
And so it was so nice to like, kind of know somebody who, who runs the whole thing. Yeah. And so I applied and, you know, expressed that I'm very interested in kind of like new people that were working there already and heard great things. And so then I got signed up in 2021 and that's like what kicked everything off.
Kaylee
It's a wonderful company. Radish House. Great. And they like, do classes on their own, like us over Zoom. So it was like I was continuing growing my portfolio with them. And then when we built like that stronger portfolio and relationship, then they were just like, We want to get you work and just kept emailing me like, Oh, it's and it's kind of like an audition.
Kaylee
Like, I'll tell Luka, like how he's sending in a self tape. I'm like reading the story and then they'll ask for, like illustrate this spread like, or design this character so that they can see how you see it. Yes. And so then I'll spend like a day on that and then see if they like it enough to to hire me.
Kaylee
So it's it's kind of the same like audition process. Okay.
Jessica
I wondered how that worked. That's fascinating. So if if you were given a story and you had to illustrate a character for it, what would the process be like for that? Like, I understand you would read the story. What are the other steps? What would you do? Kind of from 0 to 1 for that?
Kaylee
Yeah. So reference photos like gather all of your inspiration, like what kind of art style? What kind of like colors are you really is really popping out to you while you read this. And then I just kind of collect those elements and I'm like, this is how I see the character. Yeah.
Jessica
Great. And technically I'm kind of interested in the nerdy details. What do you.
Kaylee
Illustrate in.
Jessica
An and how is how does your process look like for that? And then when you send it, do you just send it as an attachment or what? What does that look like?
Kaylee
Okay. Okay. So from the very beginning, I always start off on on paper, I can't do a rough sketch on an iPad. I have to fill the the pencil and paper and I feel like I get my best work from there and then do do all my drawing there. Then I take a photo with my iPad and then I'm in procreate the whole time.
Kaylee
I know there's like other other programs to use. I've heard great things about Adobe fresco too that's coming like really up and coming and I want to like play into that and use that more. But right now procreate is my favorite. It's just so easy to use illustrated all there and then usually, you know, send the file or I send the file to my my agency.
Kaylee
But we also have like just a normal Google doc and they can see my process. So I'll upload my sketches and along the way so that if there's anything that needs to be changed, know I'm not giving them the whole completed painting at the end and they're like, can actually can you change something? So they it's very transparent, which is so wonderful and it's just open communication and it's like, I know if I'm going down the right direction or if they want it a slightly different way.
Kaylee
Yeah, it's a great process and it's just Google.
Jessica
Thanks. So I appreciate that they can kind of check in in the middle of the process so that you can see that you're not wasting your time or some direction because in an audition situation, we don't have that anymore. With self tapes, it's you just send it and that's the last you hear. Most of the time you don't get notes like you would if you were in the room.
Jessica
So it's cool that they're building in a way to do that as part of the process. I'm jealous and that's the smart idea.
Kaylee
That's really cool. Yeah.
Jessica
Okay, nice. So then.
Kaylee
When you.
Jessica
Get a job for one of those books, how does that look like? Do you have months to do it or weeks or what's the process and how do you go about illustrating a book?
Kaylee
Yeah, so it depends. They will be upfront about the project, like if they need it right away or we have time to really develop this together. So I just illustrated my first children's book and it's in the process of getting published now, which is really exciting. And it was so meant to be because the book is called Looking the Girl Don't Eat the Glue, and my husband's name is Luka.
Kaylee
So I was like, I know this character.
Jessica
And you're an art teacher and, you.
Kaylee
Know, don't eat the glue. Yes. And I'm an art teacher. It was just all the pieces came together.
Jessica
So perfectly for my.
Kaylee
First book. So that process was amazing. We actually had, like the author with us most of the time so she could, you know, see how I understand the book and we could have conversations together to develop these images. It was really great and I had plenty of time because they understood I was an art teacher as well. So, you know, they gave me all the time and it was a wonderful process just to get that together.
Kaylee
Great teamwork. And yeah, so in that case, I had I had months to develop the character and all the different because a standard children's book is 32 pages. Okay? So that could be, you know, 32 images and yeah, developing, you know, the world and all the different characters. So there's a lot of work that goes into it. So it works out if it's you have months to Yeah.
Kaylee
So really give it your best. Yeah.
Jessica
Do you find that when you're working with an author because it's a children's book, the text isn't going to have the level of descriptions that maybe someone who's adapting an existing novel into a movie would have a lot of imagery to work with. So you were able to work with the author. So I'm sure that helped. And then kind of how do you develop the world and the color scheme?
Jessica
How do you think about that?
Kaylee
Yeah, so another reason I love my agency is that it's really not all on your own because some are some other children's book agencies are very like, you do the whole thing by yourself, which is what some people might like. I love to hear other people's thoughts or, you know, just so and especially for my first book. So they're super helpful and just suggesting is not telling me, you know, what to do, but they're like, I kind of see it in this in in these colors or in the style or I can just ask them questions just to having that open communication is important to me because then I feel a lot more confident down
Kaylee
the road instead of constantly questioning, did I make the right decision? Yeah, and it is.
Jessica
Going to be a collaborative process just because you're working with an author anyway and the agency. So that's cool that you get to build that into the process of creating.
Kaylee
Yes. Yeah. So it's like a whole teamwork working on these decisions. I have like, you know, most of the say, which is great to all that creative freedom. So it just works out in the end. Yeah, that is, I think.
Jessica
Do you know when that book will be published?
Kaylee
No clue. I have to get back to my agency and ask. I've just been, you know, on to the next project.
Jessica
So what's the next project?
Kaylee
The next project is really cool. So my agency is what's the word? Not sound founded probably, but like centered. Maybe that's how you say it centered in Saudi Arabia and so, yeah.
Jessica
So it was dual cities kind of with Los Angeles.
Kaylee
Yeah. So it's established.
Jessica
There. And then there's the Los Angeles branch.
Kaylee
Yeah. And they are putting together this really cool book series of recipes from the different areas around there and just using a collection of artist styles to share these recipes and like little comics and, you know, just kind of really show what that location is all about through these different artists. And you unify it all with a similar color palette.
Kaylee
So it's a really great idea and it's so nice that it's like other artists working together. So I'm just like assigned like this one spread and then I can just do that for a time and it's like a fast easy instead of doing the whole book on your.
Jessica
Own or Okay, yeah, great. So you're part of a collection, but you also get to.
Kaylee
Be.
Jessica
Have, have a distinct job and then step away, which is helpful when you've got another job.
Kaylee
Yes. So I'm like, Oh, using you one page. I love it. I love this.
Jessica
Excellent. That's so cool. Nice. Do you have any other projects coming up with your agency or are you just always submitting?
Kaylee
So it's great. So when I had the book, they were like, okay, let's hold off on other projects so you can just focus on that. Yeah. And then this one's a shorter project, so it's just kind of like they, they manage your time also so they know like, oh, she's busy with the project. We won't ask her for help right now.
Kaylee
Yeah. Like sending in an audition.
Jessica
Yeah.
Kaylee
Yeah. So I like that. I appreciate it. So then I'm not like, you know, too overwhelmed and, like, it's. It's really nice how they take care of us. So, yeah, right now I'm just focusing on this because I have other things on my plate. Yeah. So, yeah, I like how it's organized like that.
Jessica
You are an art teacher. Yes. And I am so jealous of your students because I've seen your method allergies, I've seen their work, I've seen in your website the level of care of the scaffolding and mindset and everything that you put into that. And I am just so jealous of like fifth grade. Me That didn't have you as a teacher.
Jessica
It's probably good because then I might have been an artist and not an actor, but it's like, So tell me about what got you started down the path of teaching and what where you're physically teaching and kind of what you're thinking about that right now.
Kaylee
Yeah. Okay. So I'm in college and I'm majoring in illustration and one of the require meant was to do an internship. And it's kind of hard to get an internship with illustration because there's, you know, several studios close by, but everybody in animation usually gets those. So I saw that teaching qualifies for that class requirement and this was like in 2018, I think.
Kaylee
And I just had the best time working with children. I know that I've, like, loved kids like, you know, with like young cousins at family gatherings. Like, I'm usually hanging out with them. But this, you know, teaching art for these kids was just so fulfilling and gave me like so much purpose and so much happiness and so much inspiration because I'm a children's book artist and now I'm spending all my time with children and it's like it's just a full circle.
Kaylee
And so that class right after I added teaching, so I double majored.
Jessica
Oh, okay, great. Yes.
Kaylee
So I have a degree in both. And it was also like I was really reflecting and I was like, and for me it felt selfish to just be an artist. Like, I was like thinking I've had such a wonderful life. Like, I'm so grateful to practice gratitude every day. And it's like, like, am I just going to continue living this best life and not give back?
Kaylee
Like, I'm like, How can I help people? It's like I've I've had such a great life so far that it's such a privilege to just be an artist. It's it's so wonderful, so I felt like this, you know, this sense of of guilt, of like, I need to do more than just illustrate, like, you know, create great memories.
Kaylee
Like childhood memories is awesome, putting your art into that. But I was like, I know I could do do more firsthand. And so teaching really put those two things together. So it's like I'm following my passion and what makes me happy, but it also makes me happy helping people out, especially children, and just combining my two loves. And it's just it just worked out.
Kaylee
It was like when I had those two things in my life, I was like, This is it. This is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. I am very happy with my decision. Yeah, it's like.
Jessica
That's so perfect. And a lot of people never get that or don't get that for a lot later. So it's it's exciting that you're kind of finding these landmarks so early in your journey. Thank you, Betty.
Kaylee
Great. Yeah, it's it's great to to feel that because I do see people who are still struggling to find where they really find happiness or, you know, or more fulfilling purpose. And so I'm again, very grateful that it was so clear to me and that I can practice that.
Jessica
Yeah. So when you teach, what are the big things that you're thinking about for passing on to the students for techniques or mindset or how they go about creating?
Kaylee
Oh, such a good question. I can just get fired.
Jessica
Up doing it. Fired up.
Kaylee
Because. Because teaching is such a passion job. Like if you're not into it, you're not supposed to be a teacher, you know, like it just comes out of you. But yeah, being.
Jessica
Our.
Kaylee
Teacher is the best because you are the fun teacher. You are. You are the safe space on campus. You know, the kids just light up when they see you. And it's the therapy. It's the break in the day of your finding yourself and expressing yourself and practicing kindness in the classroom, I feel like. And maybe other subjects, you don't have that opportunity all the time.
Kaylee
And then in art is such a great space to open up all these doors and really develop children as humans and just nice creative humans. And I just love that. That's my job, you know, like I get to make sure. So when I'm like thinking about my kids and like being mindful of what I want them to learn, I teach t k through eighth grade, so the more older they are, I try to teach them, you know, like really good skills so that they are ready for high school or if they're interested in doing it for a career and like really focusing on on that.
Kaylee
And then for the younger classes, you know, not everybody wants to be an artist. They are having fun. But I understand that's not what everybody's here to do. So it's not like my main goal is to make sure that they become artists when they grow up. It's just giving them a fun time to to learn something new, push themselves to learn healthy habits of like a persisting in this project that even though it's hard or they're not getting yet, it's like push through, put your time and effort into it and you're going to surprise yourself and it just makes it so worth it seeing them grow and but then having them understand that and then
Kaylee
watching them surprise themselves and, you know, gain confidence. You can just see it in their faces and they like, help each other out and like support each other. Like when we have gallery walks, each student has to present and like, you know, practice speaking in front of people and defending their ideas and and their their styles.
Jessica
How young of students do you do that with?
Kaylee
Oh, start at the very beginning. Therefore.
Jessica
I they are so cute.
Kaylee
And, you know, you just get to dive into their imagination and you're like, what is this piece about? It's a great long story sometimes. Yeah, it's great. And yeah, so I have them start from very young so that it's no surprise when they're getting older that they have to keep doing this and you just see them support each other and cheer them on.
Kaylee
It's just such a great energy and like positive space. That's like my goal too, of maintaining that. Yeah, yeah. It's oh, the joys of an teacher.
Jessica
So if somebody who's listening has young kids in their life somehow or is for example, I have three young nephews, if I go hang out with them and I want to give them an art project that's just just for little kids. What is maybe a project that you found that's really fun that? Might be good to give them.
Kaylee
I think with the younger kids, I love giving them projects that really exercise their creativity because as they get older, I totally see them lose that. And I think it's so important to keep that fun imagination and, you know, possibilities alive. So giving them a creative writing prompt, I mean, like drawing prompt, but kind of help them out like set up the stage, get their imaginations going and then send them off and be like, draw it showing.
Jessica
Can you give an example of what that might be like?
Kaylee
Oh, it's, it's so fun because I do this like every day. I have a long commute and I'm just like, okay, what am I going to have that like for warm up? Like just to spend 10 minutes? Oh, yeah. Exasperated. And I just go very random, you know, just like choose an animal, an activity sometimes. So I'm like, draw a family of mice baking pie and that's it.
Kaylee
And then I'll and then I'll write it on the board, and then maybe I'll be like, you know, is the pie like or the baking one giant pie? Are they all little baby pies? Is it, you know, what time of year is it, Is it, you know, hot or cold outside? And I'm just, you know, asking them all these questions so that their mind starts picturing it and they're like, this is what's happening.
Kaylee
And they just go for it and draw and tell stories. I mean, that's the key to illustration. That is what I do. And I think it's such a human thing. It's like, that's why we love movies and reading books and just knowing, like putting the pieces together so we understand the story. It's who we are and it's just keeping that interest and excitement, enthusiasm for telling stories in young kids.
Jessica
I love that. The concept of animal doing an activity, yeah, you could do that for a year.
Kaylee
That could be a career. And then like, I don't know what it looks like. I'm like, That's why we practice.
Jessica
Like there's no right or wrong. Like, just.
Kaylee
Just try it. Yeah. And it just also opens that door to like, you know, you don't have to, you know, put yourself down right away, like, I don't know how to do it. And it's like, I don't know, like enforcing that habit of like, I'll just try it out. Yeah.
Jessica
Like, don't be afraid of a bad drawing.
Kaylee
Like, that's why we practice.
Jessica
That's such a great, simple quote that I love. Don't be afraid of a bad drawing.
Kaylee
How many times have I been afraid of bad drawing?
Jessica
I don't really have.
Kaylee
Oh, my goodness. I say it all the time because I can see as I get older. Yeah, it happens because they get very self aware of what other people think or they're very hard on themselves that they just kind of paralyze and they're like, I don't know, I just don't move. And I'm like, Just make a bad drawing.
Kaylee
It's okay. Just have it out on paper, get it out. Even if it's bad. It was just fun and it's therapeutic to do something just to create. Yeah, that reminds me of like, something I read that I really loved. And it was You will live a happy life if every day you create something you learn something and you do something physically.
Kaylee
So it's like a goal for each. So just, you know, go for a 30 minute walk, listen to a podcast, you know, expand your mind and then just create something, you know, try a new recipe or draft a picture and just setting those little goals for yourself every day. Just, you know, you feel that accomplishment and that you're growing.
Kaylee
And that's the whole that's the whole point that brought me to. Oh, and I wanted to add on to that. Like, I read that, but I think we should add, how can you be kind to somebody? Because that's like my goal in life is just to spread kindness and happiness if that's through my art or teaching. But it can be something small from like, you know, letting somebody merge into your lane in traffic to how can I step in my friend's shoes and like, help them out with, with something that they're going through, like putting in my time.
Kaylee
Mm. Just add that onto your day and I think that will also make you very happy and accomplished.
Jessica
Yeah. Yeah. I like to talk about in the acting world we talk about action verbs and it's this idea of what are you doing to the other person? And so I would say kind of your, your core action verbs are things like uplift, cheer up, empathize with things like that. And so I really love that you have an integrity across your work, that I see that in your work, but also in you as a human and how you talk and what you do.
Jessica
So I think that I think that's part of the reason you are so happy is because you have that integrity.
Kaylee
And you.
Jessica
Both believe it, but also enact it. So that's pretty great. Oh, thank you. Something I wanted to talk about was just on your website, you not only have links to your store and your own work and kind of what you think about your work, but you also have a lot of resources for teachers and for art teachers or maybe somebody that's working with young kids as artists.
Jessica
So I just want to call that out. So if anybody wants to check that out on your website, that's a really helpful resource. And I really liked you had a couple of little illustrations of how kids could draw people and you had like suggestions of here is, you know, make one leg bigger than the other and have them doing an activity and don't be afraid to draw hands and things like that.
Kaylee
And it's all of the.
Jessica
Things that I know as a young artist I did the opposite of. So even just that little sheet, I learned something from. So I thought that was really cool. Thank you.
Kaylee
Yeah.
Jessica
I wanted to ask you about how your travels have influenced your work. I love, you know, you have this really cool map of Wales where Luka is from and his family's from Italy, and you have this gorgeous illustration of Olive, you know, the little the little pieces of Italy that you had from your travels there. How have your travels influenced your work overall so much?
Kaylee
I think I am most inspired when I'm in nature or traveling, just being out in the world, especially to, you know, new cultures or new patterns designs, colors. It's like I am ready to draw like. But I think that's another really important part about being an artist is expanding your visual library, especially for, you know, visual artist. But I mean, the same in acting of just like getting to know all the different types of people and expanding your knowledge on that is so important so you can bring that to your art.
Kaylee
And I think travel is just the best way to do that.
Jessica
And you've got some upcoming travel to Wales too. Yeah. So going back, that's exciting. Yeah. What, what are the kind of aspects.
Kaylee
Of.
Jessica
The what travel brings to your art? Do you find it more with how you interact with the people or the colors or the shape of the landscape? Or how do you it coming into your art most concretely?
Kaylee
Oh, very good question in different ways. I get inspired by, you know, the the way people dress. I just attention to detail like that much of like, oh, I've noticed this is like a trend here. Yeah. And then the architecture, the yeah, the landscapes a lot because I'm so interested in nature, like even just the plants that you find more of or the flowers that are more popular there, especially the food to enjoy it and to gain inspiration from.
Kaylee
Yeah.
Jessica
I love it. Yeah. Nice. Are there any people or quotes that have inspired you? You talked about one quote, Is there anything else or mentors or artists that you follow that come to mind?
Kaylee
So many, like my whole Instagram is just inspiration. It's just like, get smart.
Jessica
I'll put your Instagram in the show notes so people can look and see, you know, maybe some of the people that you follow that discover new people.
Kaylee
Yeah, it's so nice how I use it. It's just like a library of like and then, you know, again, when a project comes out of my, oh, I want to use this person's how, how they draw eyes or something and like put that in and collect all these different ideas like make what I have in mind. But yeah, that's, that's like my whole Instagram is just all these artists.
Jessica
And very inspired.
Kaylee
Getting so much inspiration from the one. The main one right now that comes to mind is Sophie McPike. She's based in Australia and just a beautiful artist. What I love most about her work is that she just shows her playfulness. It's it's so fun. It's like that freedom of like childish drawings, but with so much knowledge and like, you know, discipline behind it.
Kaylee
Like, she knows what she's doing, but she, you know, like, has fun doing it and just like, lets whatever happens happens. And I'm like, Oh, I want to be like her. It's amazing. So I'm actually getting a tattoo tomorrow with one of her pieces.
Jessica
Oh, that's so cool. Does she know? Yeah. Excited?
Kaylee
Yeah. So it's awesome that in her shop you can get a tattoo, take ticket. So it's like asking for permission and, you know, paying them and, you know, thanking them, like, you know, I want to use your work instead of just, you know, stealing it. Yeah. You know, doing it that way. So I bought a tattoo, take it from her.
Kaylee
And she was the nicest person ever. Just making sure I got what I wanted. And then, yeah, my my appointment is for tomorrow.
Jessica
So exciting.
Kaylee
I know. I'm very excited.
Jessica
Is this your first tattoo or you've had other ones now?
Kaylee
I've had another one. Okay, this will be my second, but it's in a more like noticeable. Yeah. Place. And I'm just like, It's okay. I'm an art teacher.
Jessica
It's I actually got my first this year and it was, it's like such a big step I think whenever you are passionate about art. But also in a public facing job, you really have to kind of walk that line. But I think it's I think it's really powerful and I couldn't be more thrilled with mine.
Kaylee
Oh, good.
Jessica
I'll have so much fun with that. Thank you. That's so cool. So one thing we've talked about just a little bit that I'd like you to touch on is how do you deal with things that scare you and what scares you creatively or otherwise on a regular basis? And how do you kind of muster up the courage to step into that?
Kaylee
Yeah, I mean, this for example, just being here, you know, in front of the camera, that's new to me because, you know, my art form is I'm alone, I draw and then I'll show you that. Yeah. So to to be in front of the camera, that was like new and exciting and it, you know, was scary at first, but it's like, if it scares you, you should do it.
Jessica
So you're doing great. Thank.
Kaylee
Okay. So, yeah, I wanted to push myself and and overcome those, those little fears, but I think it's just you know, sometimes you can be your worst enemy and you're really hard on yourself. Artists are always the hardest. You are hardest on yourself for any art form. I think that's that's true. And so I think it's getting out of my head and being confident enough is like, Oh no, you, you can have this or you can do this or.
Kaylee
One of my favorite quotes is it's better to say, Oh, well, than what if.
Jessica
And Oh, I like that so much better than like it's better to beg forgiveness. Oh yeah. Mean ask permission because this is like, oh well, yeah, because. Right. Because I'm not necessarily breaking anything and I might just not be happy with how it turned out.
Kaylee
Yes, I love that. Then it's just this big weight lifted off of you and it's like, Oh, wow, you know, instead of that weighing what if, and it's just all those possibilities that just haunt you. It's like, no, you you did it and you saw what came from it. And now you can go on to the next one, like without that pulling you back.
Kaylee
So that just kind of comes into my mind when something scares me and it's like, Oh, come on, push, push and do it. I don't know if you know, like any grams. Mm hmm. Well, any of them, are you?
Jessica
I forget I did it years ago, and I. I'm going to have to look it up again. I don't remember.
Kaylee
Oh, I'm so interested in it. In it. And I'm an enigma. And seven. And so is Luca. Okay. And we're both enthusiast for life.
Jessica
Yeah, you are. You both are.
Kaylee
I love it. I love it. It made so much sense when we did it, and we're like, we're the same. But it's just like we are so, like, driven by passion projects and we want to get the most out of life. And so, yeah, it's just like saying yes to things and, and yeah, just like living life to the fullest I think is our priority.
Kaylee
And so it makes our relationship work because it's like, you know, if he's really busy and a passion project, I'm like, go for it. Like, yeah, I know that that's where you find your happiness, because that's the same with me and he supports me and what I do. And that's just another aspect of how it works so well.
Kaylee
But yeah, gaining the most out of life and just doing things out of your comfort zone or trying new things evolving in that way is definitely how you get the most out of life and that's, you know, my main priority. And I feel like I've noticed that. I think my definition of old is when people choose to stop learning because it's just they become closed minded and it's like, no, they're set in their ways.
Kaylee
And I'm like, Oh, you're now you are aging or like, you know, now you are stuck in that time frame of mind. And as long as you're opening yourself up to to new classes, new challenges, you want to learn a new language. It's like, I feel like you'll stay young and get the most again, get the most out of life because you're living all these different dreams.
Kaylee
And so that's yeah. So when something scares me, I remember what I stand for and what I want. And then I'm like, Oh, go for it.
Jessica
I love that. Yeah. I was actually just at a friend's 70th birthday party and he is so young. He's like a dear friend because he feels so young and so alive and so growing and, you know, working on different projects and learning things. So it's very. All right. So now I'd like to ask you, what is your creator's challenge where my listeners can and even whether they consider themselves visual artists or not, how how can they have a little sense of play with your world and do something with what they've got in front of them?
Jessica
What's your creator's challenge?
Kaylee
My creator's challenge is to draw from observation. It's, you know, for illustrators and animators, we do cafe sketching and it's just go to coffee shop and just draw the people around you. And it's so fun and meditative because you just get out of your head, out of projects, you're very present and you just get to admire, you know, the people around you or where you're at and and don't be afraid to make a bad drawing.
Kaylee
Just kind of play with your different pens and colors and just kind of collect memories visually. Instead of writing it down. It's like put in, put it in with images and do that not just with people, but, you know, sit outside and draw the plant right in front of you or, you know, really study and admire the colors that the atmosphere has.
Kaylee
It's like just being so present and aware of the beauty around you. Again, it's just so meditative. It's just it really gets you out of your head and very present. And I love it and I have to do it more.
Jessica
That's such a good one and look forward to doing that.
Kaylee
I'm excited. Yeah. And then where.
Jessica
Can people find you online? I'll have all of your links in the show notes, but is Instagram the best place? Or maybe your website? You can talk about both of them.
Kaylee
Yeah. Yeah. So my Instagram, I have two one for just all of my art projects that's at @kaylee_hawley and then I have my ducks in a row business and that's at ducks underscore in a underscore row. And then yeah, my my website and then to meet with me in person I'm doing that Melrose trading post and more often Excellent.
Kaylee
Yeah, I'm very excited because it's just like very close by to that, to where I live and just having that consistent. It's every Sunday. Yeah, I don't know how often I'll be able to because with all the jobs that I have, it's like it's taking my one of my one free days and so it's like, how much energy do I have this week?
Kaylee
Yeah, let's do it. But I'll always be posting when I'm perfect.
Jessica
So people can watch your Instagram to see when they can see you in person. Yes. Well, thank you so much. It was a delight to talk to you. You're fantastic and I really appreciate having you on.
Kaylee
Thank you for having me on.
Jessica
Join the community and share your creative challenges on Instagram and Facebook at Creators Cafe by Kika Labs. And also check out my website www.kikalabs.com to sign up for the mailing list. So you always know when a new podcast is released and to check out my coaching and digital courses to help you be a more confident and joyful creator.
